The Natural Rubber Policy Committee (NRPC) will meet later today to review the planters’ demands, said Mr Kittiratt, who gave reassurances that the door for talks has never been closed.

The deputy prime minister said he was confident that the NRPC would find ways to help small-time farmers despite their harsh demands of the government.

Regarding the shooting of two rubber growers at a rally site in Nakhon Si Thammarat on Sunday, Mr Kittirat said police would issue an arrest warrant for the suspect. One man was killed and another injured in the shooting.

He urged demonstrators to end their road blockade in order to relieve people’s communication hardship but confirmed that the government would not enforce the Internal Security Act to pressure or disperse the protesters.